Sarah Fuller, Marketing Director for Wyevale Garden Centres, said: “The garden has a special place in British culture, and with roots dating back to the early 20th century, the heritage of Wyevale Garden Centres ties deeply to that joyful tradition. Our ambition is to make our brand synonymous with the joys of the garden, as well as a place where anyone can come to find help, ideas and inspiration.” 

An historic legacy in the garden 

A well-known brand within The Garden Centre Group, Wyevale Garden Centres began as a mail-order nursery in 1932 and later expanded into one of the earliest garden centres in 1966. Wyevale Garden Centres continues to enjoy strong recognition among consumers and online is currently the most searched for retail brand name in the garden-specific sector. 

“We chose Wyevale Garden Centres as our brand name due to its strong existing recognition and positive associations among consumers as well its history of being at the forefront of the UK gardening tradition,” said Sarah Fuller. 

“Best of local, best of national” 

The new brand name and visual identity will roll out across garden centres, completing in early 2015. Individual garden centres, which currently carry an assortment of brand names, will adopt the national brand but retain their local name, in the spirit of maintaining their strong connections with local communities. 

“We aspire to offer our customers the best of national and the best of local when it comes to their gardens, and we will continue to nurture the unique characteristics and community-focus of our centres under the unifying umbrella of our new national brand,” said Sarah Fuller. 

A new visual identity 

A new logo and visual identity will accompany the change in brand name, featuring a blooming leaf design as well as vivid green and purple lettering. The design incorporates elements of the traditional Wyevale Garden Centres logo and that of The Garden Centre Group’s popular Gardening Club, the UK’s largest garden loyalty club, with more than 2.5 million members. 

The company say: "Wyevale Garden Centres’ mission is to bring the joy of the garden to everyone, providing a place where anyone can come to find help, ideas and inspiration. Our centres are here to provide: 

• Guaranteed quality customers can trust 
• Innovative and inspiring solutions to make it easier and quicker for people to create the look they want 
• Centres that are part of the local community and feel naturally inspiring, where plants are centre stage 
• A team that is passionate about sharing their expertise and helping customers choose 
• Restaurants that offer garden-fresh, wholesome food that celebrates the season 
• Retail partners that provide more choices for gifts, clothing, home and leisure time 
• A force for good in our communities and our industry, where we aim to act and source responsibly and support good causes." 

Ninety per cent of Wyevale Garden Centres’ plant stock is British-grown, and much of this stock is grown in its own nurseries. Wyevale Garden Centres employs more than 5,000 staff and runs its own gardening membership club, The Gardening Club, which has more than 2.5 million members. 

For more information visit www.wyevalegardencentres.co.uk 

Wyevale Garden Centres’ roots date back to Wyevale Nursery, which was founded in 1932 and eventually became one of the earliest garden centres. 

The company has grown organically and through acquisitions of well-known brands such as Blooms and Country Gardens, and in 2009 was renamed The Garden Centre Group. 

The Garden Centre Group was acquired by Terra Firma Capital Partners in 2012. 

Since then the company has continued to grow, acquiring ten centres in 2013, including the Garden & Leisure Group. 

In July 2014 The Garden Centre Group announced it would rebrand as Wyevale Garden Centres. 

GTN Xtra received this announcement on Tuesday 16th July 2014:



The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, the world’s leading marketer of branded consumer lawn and garden products, today announced that its subsidiary, The Scotts Company (UK) Limited, has reached an agreement to acquire proprietary brands from Solus Garden and Leisure Limited (in Administration).

The acquisition includes, but is not limited to, the Yeoman, Joseph Bentley, ChapelWood, Botanico, Garden Nation and Bermuda brands. Prior to going into administration, Solus was a leading UK supplier of garden and leisure products, offering a diverse mix of quality brands for more than 25 years.

Mark Pearson, previously Chief Executive Officer of Solus, will join Scotts to lead the acquired brands, which will be operated as a “Scotts Solus Brands” internal division within The Scotts Company (UK) Limited.

“The acquired Solus brands are complementary to our existing gardens business in the UK and fill some gaps in our current product offering,” said Martin Breddy, Vice President and General Manager of The Scotts Company (UK) Limited. “We are excited to combine these brands with Scotts’ innovation, advertising and marketing and are confident this will help drive faster growth for the UK gardening market. “We welcome the Solus team into the Scotts family and are working towards a seamless transition,” added Breddy.

Tony Barrell, joint administrator and director of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, said: “I am pleased to announce the completion of the sale to Scotts, which secures the future of the Solus brands and business. I would like to thank the employees, key customers and suppliers for all their support over the last eight weeks. We will now be communicating with the suppliers of the third-party branded products, which were not sold as part of the deal.”

Terms of the transaction are not being disclosed.

Look out for GTN Xtra this weekend with all the industry comment about the purchase of the Solus Brands plus news of third party products previously distributed by Solus.  Sign up for your own copy of GTN Xtra here

The continued warm weather last month (June, 2014) saw barbecues and furniture remain one of the best performing categories for the fourth month running according to the Garden Centre Association’s (GCA) Barometer of Trade (BoT).

The resultsout on July 16, which arethe only official GCA June trading figures to be released, showed furniture and barbecue sales were up 26.6% compared to June, 2013.

Will Armitage (left), Chairman of the GCA, explained: “Our member garden centres had another good month, although sales in more traditional categories were down, which is usual for this time of year. However, this was made up for by good sales in other areas and the continued dry weather has boosted those barbecue and furniture sales yet again.

“As well as furniture and barbecues, the other categories that saw increases during the month were food hall/farm shop, which was up by 5.88%, gifts up by 6.14% and hard landscaping up by 7.64%.

“The year to date figure currently stands at 11.14% up.”

The GCA BoT reports are compiled using actual sales figures and provide an up-to-date trading position statement. They are made available mid-month following the end of the prior month after all member garden centres have submitted their results.

The reports allow members to compare their trading positions with other centres.

William Blake, Manager at St Peters Garden Centre in Worcestershire, said: “We’ve enjoyed a good year so far on barbecue sales. Strategically, for this year, we decided to only stock Weber barbecues and then price competitively, not necessarily matching, but within reach of the internet prices and it seems to be paying off.

“No longer are customers coming in, viewing the product, getting their smart phones out and going for a cheaper internet option. Plus, of course, they know us and trust us to deliver any after sales service requirements.

“In addition to this we have put a number of our team through training at Weber’s Grill Academy. It has created ‘experts’ able to engage and teach the customers as they are selling, which is very important when customers are purchasing complex high ticket value items.

“In May we enjoyed barbecue sales 80% up versus 2013 and in June, which included a barbecue demo weekend, we saw sales up 100% against the same period last year. The demo weekend, run by our own chefs and staff delivered a number of big ticket sales but also increased our accessory sales, which of course are important to the category performance.”

Newbridge Nurseries in Horsham also saw a good month of sales of both garden furniture and barbecues.

Nigel Wait, Managing Director, said: “Unfortunately no one can predict the weather and garden furniture and barbecue sales have done exceptionally well this year because of the good summer. Next year could be completely different so it’s about having the right products on the shop floor, with good back up stocks and then just praying the good weather will return.”

Sales of furniture and associated products were up at Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre in Somerset.

Tom Berry, Furniture Supervisorat Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre, said: “Furniture and associated products such as parasols, covers and gazebos have seen a 16% uplift on last year’s sales with product availability proving to be the main stumbling block to driving sales further forward.

“Interestingly barbecues and accessories, although up, only show a 5% increase, with internet competition proving to be very tough.”

As we reach the summer flattening of sales volumes, we must wait to see if the weather or the burgeoning economic confidence has any influence on visits to garden centres.  Sales volumes, year to date, are currently 1.9% up on 2013, up 15.2% on 2012 and now down 1% on 2011.

There was a particularly confident mood at SOLEX this week, suggesting that most centres are continuing to look positively at summer sales.  Most exhibitors reported increased orders for 2015 on furniture and BBQs.

GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes compared to the same week last year

• Garden Products – up 29%
• Veg 2 Gro – up 24%
• Growing Media – up 98%
• All items index – up 38%

To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk

My client is a large garden retailer who is currently looking for a plant area manager at one of their flagship sites.

 I am looking for a planteria manager with the skills to join the leadership team of one of the UK's top garden centres.

 You must be an excellent man manager and have the necessary retail skills and experience to take on this role.

Plant retail knowledge must be good but specific in depth knowledge is not required.

 This role will suit an individual that has ambition and is looking to progress to a site management role in the future.

I am currently recruiting for a chain retailer based in the garden industry.

I am looking for an ambitious individual to join a hardworking team based on the south coast.

You will preferably have a purchasing background, preferably at at least a buying administrator level and be looking to step up.

Preferably from a fashion background preferably with experience in accessories also.

Could suit a graduate with work experience.

Please call Brad Peck on 01780 480530, or apply with your CV quoting reference #6493 to info@morepeople.co.uk

Our client is a well established young plant supplier who supply the professional growing market with a large variety of plants. They are currently seeing a driven sales orientated individual who has both superb plant knowledge and an aptitude for sales or a professional sales person who has sold into the growing sector.

The SUCCESSFUL Candidate will be responsible for:-

• Managing key grower account
• Developing new business and managing existing accounts
• Provide technical advice to customers
• Represent the company at trade shows and exhibitions

For this role our client is ideally seeking:-

• A proven background in territory sales to the grower sector or an outstanding individual from the growing or retail sectors who has the drive to become a top sales person
• Be a target driven individual who has the ability to hit sales target and achieve growth within their sector
• A strong relationship builder who has excellent customer skills and can ensure customer satisfaction   

Please call Dianne Saunders on 07929 013910 or apply with your CV to info@morepeople.co.uk

Scotts Pathclear Gun (1 litre) is the highest re-entry in this week’s GTN Bestsellers Garden Products chart.

Other returning products include: 

• Doff Slug Killer (800g plus 200g free).
• Stewart Flower Pot Saucer 8-inch Terracotta.
• Bayer Baby Bio Orchid Food (175 ml).
• Scotts Miracle Gro Pour & Feed (3 litres).

Meanwhile, Gardman Bamboo Canes 1.2m, pack of 20, is the highest climber.

Scotts Levington Tomorite (1 litre) retains top spot in front of Gardman Ice Orb Solar Light.

To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk

The biggest movers in the GTN Bestsellers Veg-2-Gro chart are seeds with both Suttons and Thompson & Morgan seeing their products return to the Top 50.

• The highest climber, moving up 39 places to No 10, is Suttons Carrot Early Nantes 5.
• Thompson & Morgan Coriander is the highest returning line while the company’s Runner Bean Red Rum  is the highest new entry.
• Other newcomers are Unwins Carrot Early Nantes 2 and Suttons Brussels Sprouts Bedford  Fillbask.

To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk

Arthur Bowers have two Top Soil products in the GTN Bestsellers Growing Media chart Top 10, with their 25-litre bag being the highest climber.

• Arthur Bowers also have the highest re-entry with their Landscape Bark (100 litres).
• Their Mini Bark Chips (100 litres) have also returned to the chart after a doubling of sales.
• GEM Cambark Chunky Chip Bark (70 litres) has also seen a 50% increase in sales.

To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk

Every week GTN receives and analyses epos data from a number of UK garden centres to produce the GTN Bestsellers charts and weekly bestsellers sales tips.

The full charts which provide useful insight into product sales peaks, new trends and new link sales opportunities are published in the weekly GTN Xtra printed newsletter.

As the year goes on we give sales volume comparisons with 2012 as well as 2013 to allow your teams to see variations over a three year period.

Access is by subscription only.  For £145.00 per year you and your team can have access to the most upto date gardening sales analysis that has already helped many UK garden centres increase their sales.  To subscribe call 01733 775700, e-mail karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk or buy on-line using this link.

Highlights of the GTN Garden Products Bestsellers chart for this week are here

Highlights of the GTN Veg-2-Gro Products Bestsellers chart for this week are here

Highlights of the GTN Growing Media Bestsellers chart for this week are here

WARNING the GTN Bestsellers Charts seriously improve the business of our subscribers.  Invest 15 minutes each week in improving your sales using the GTN Bestsellers charts and your turnover and customer satisfaction will improve too.